Drawrope handle lock



June 14, 1960 s. H. GORDON DRAWROPE HANDLE LOCK Filed Oct. 31, 1957 ORDO INVEN I OR;

' STANLEY H. e

United States Patent 06cc 2,940,290 Patented June 14, 1960 DRAWROPE HANDLE LOCK Stanley H. Gordon, Chicago, Ill. (1407 Touhy Ave., Park Ridge, 111.)

Filed Oct. 31, 1957, Ser. No. 693,720

12 Claims. (Cl. 70-65) tomary to equip the drawropes of mailbags with a lock structure selectively positionable therealong to close the sack and lock it in closed position. The invention contemplates an arrangement of this type.

The handling of mailbags that are closed by a drawrope includes at least four operations: First, the bag is opened and loaded; second, the bag is thereafter closed and secured, and it may or may not be padlocked for shipment; third, the bag is shipped, and during such shipment is handled many times en route to its destination, and such handling often includes dragging it for short distances; and fourth; the bag is opened at its destination to remove the contents thereof, and such opening first requires release of the lock sometimes used in shipment. It is apparent that ideally these operations should be performed as smoothly and quickly as possible, but in actual practice a number of obstacles impede and delay one or another of these operations, frequently to the point that mail spills from the bag.

In the operations of opening and closing the bag, the drawropes are released or tightened, respectively, and to perform either of these movements, the clamp or lock arranged with the rope must be manipulated, and in existing structures this is an operation that requires both hands of the worker. When the bag is moved (in and out of railroad cars and trucks, across platforms, etc.) by dragging the same, the worker usually grips the bag by the drawrope clamp, and with existing devices a very poor grip is altorded, often tearing the workmans gloves and hands.

Since the clamp devices now employed are difficult to manipulate, the slack in the drawrope is not taken up when the mail and parcels in the bag settle, and as a consequence thereof mail may spill from the bag during handling and shipping. Also, since the clamp structure is not held close to the bag, there is a considerable likelihood of such clamps snagging on the projections or drawropes of other bags, etc.; and with the clamp free to lie in any random position near the neck of the bag, it is also diflicult to read the legend as to destination of the bag which is usually indicated on the nameplate.

A further disadvantage inherent in clamp structures now employed is that they are subject to frequent damage. A great number of clamps do not open and close properly because of the damaged condition thereof, largely attributable to the complexity of the clamp and the exposure of certain of the operating parts thereof. For example, the clamp may have several moving parts, such as a roller, which tend to stick thereby making operation of the clamping lever difficult, and the clamping lever itself which is exposed substantially throughout its entire extent is readily bent or otherwise distorted and damaged. inoperative or damaged clamp structures now in use are a hazard. They not only loosen and allow mail to spill from bags, but hang at the ends of the drawropes Where they swing and lash about as the bag is handled, sometimes injuring the mail workers.

In view of the numerous disadvantages characteristic of the clamp structures now in use, an object of this invention is to provide a drawrope lock structure that overcomes such disadvantages. Another object of the invention is that of providing a drawrope handle lock that is mechanically simple, does not damage the drawrope, permits insertion of a new rope without disassembly, and itself may be disassembled for replacement of the parts thereof if such replacement should ever be required.

Another object of this invention is to safeguard the mail. This device when in the lock position and secured with a padlock cannot be easily forced or broken since all parts are internal, and even if the free ends of the ropes are grabbed to move the bag, the lock will not be loosened.

Another object of the invention is in the provision of a drawrope handle lock that may be practicably used as a handle to facilitate movement of the heavy mail sacks, and that is preferably T-shaped considering the configuration it defines with the drawrope whereby damage to the workman, his apparel and the mail bags are all obviated. Still another object is to provide a drawrope handle lock that is manipulatable with one hand so that it may be'aetuated to secure, lock and release the drawrope quickly and easily without diverting the workman's attention.

A further object of this invention is in providing a drawrope handle lock in which slack in the drawrope may be taken up at all times, irrespective of the locked or not locked condition of the handle simply by sliding the same along the drawrope toward the bag. Still a. further object is to provide a structure of the character described, having three operational positions-namely, normal, lock and release-and in which the slack in a drawrope may be taken up while the lock is in any one of these positions, and which permits slack in either side of the drawrope to be taken up independently of the other side thereof.

Yet a further object is in the provision of a lock structure of the type described, having the advantages of a spring-loaded lock, but which achieves these advantages by utilizing the compressibility of the drawrope itself, thereby obviating the need for springs, and which automatically returns to its normal condition when the finger force holding it in release condition is removed, but which is automatically maintained in its lock condition after being positively moved thereinto. Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the specification develops.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which-- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a lock structure embodying the invention, shown in connection with a mailbag and in relation to a workmans hand;

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are side views in elevation with onehalf of the casing removed and showing, respectively, the structure in lock, normal and release positions; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the structure with one side of the casing shown in exploded or spaced relation to the rest of the structure.

In Fig. 1, the drawrope handle lock is designated in general with the numeral 10, and is shown in connection with a mailbag 11 having a drawrope 12 arranged with the open top thereof and which passes through the handle lock 10 in two segments or end portions 13 and 14, re-

spectively. The handle structure is shown in its lock position, and is maintained thereat by a padlock 15. The use of the structure as a handle is shown by the position thereof in the hand 16 of a workman. As illustrated in Fig. l, the workman can lift or drag or otherwise move the sack 11 simply by imparting the requisite force thereto through the handle lock 10. Further, the T-shaped configuration of the handle is made apparent when it is considered in relation to the drawrope 12 which forms the stem of the T, with the handle being the crosspiece thereof.

The specific handle lock illustrated is generally symmetrical about the longitudinal axis thereof, and comprises a casing defined by a pair of separable casing sections 17 and 18 which are preferably contoured as shown at 19 so as to facilitate gripping the same within a workmans hand. It is apparent that the casing sections 17 and 18 may be secured together to form a unitary casing, as illustrated in Fig. l, and they may be so secured together by any suitable means such as by cap screws or by the rivets 2t] and 21 that extend therethrough adjacent opposite end portions thereof. The casing may be made of any suitable material as, for example, aluminum or magnesium; and the two halves or sections thereof may be cast elements.

When joined together, the casing sections define a channel 22 extending longitudinally therethrough, and slidably mounted for longitudinal movement therein is a slide bar or control plunger 23. Figs. 2 through 4 make it evident that the slide bar is provided with a pair of elongated slots or recesses 24 and 25, that respectively receive the rivets 20 and 21 therein, which limit movement of the slide bar within the channel 22. Preferably, the slide bar is substantially longer than the casing, and has end portions projecting therefrom in each of its positions. The end portion 26 of the slide bar which as shown in Fig. 2 projects beyond the end of the casing when the slide bar is in its lock position, is provided with an opening or eye 27 therethrough adapted to receive the locking segment of the padlock 15.

The casing sections 17 and 18 are each hollowed-out (as shown at 28) to define a compartment therein, and such unitary compartment is divided medially by the channel 22 and, consequently, by the slide bar 23. The compartment is adjacent the butt end 29 of the slide bar, and the forward end of each compartment is defined by an arcuate wall 30 that terminates in an opening 31 intermediate the ends of an edge 32 of the casing. It will be apparent that the opening 31 communicates with the compartment 28, as does an opening 33 in the end wall of the casing adjacent the butt 29 of the slide bar. The casing is equipped with an edge or wall portion 34 extending in substantially parallel relation with the edge 32, and which functions as a clamp for the drawrope in a manner to be described hereinafter.

Pivolally mounted intermediate the ends thereof in each of the compartments 28 is a compression lever 35, and defiining the pivotal axis therefor is the rivet 21. The compression levers 35 are each generally V-shaped, although the angle defined therebetween is obtuse. For purposes of identification, the legs of the single lever 35 shown are denoted with the numerals 36 and 37. These legs extend generally toward the wall portions 34 of the casing, and the end of the leg 36 is notched or serrated in a zig-zag relation of comparatively smooth non-fraying configuration as shown at 38, with the points of the serrations directed rearwardly or toward the butt end 29 of the slide bar. The end of the leg 37 is slightly enlarged in a direction toward the wall 34, and is rounded as shown at 39; and the edge 40 thereof facing the wall 34 is a cam terminating in a recess or depression 41 adapted to seat a cam follower 42 therein, rigidly fixed to the slide bar 23 and extending outwardly therefrom into the compartment 28. From what has been said heretofore, it will be apparent that where two rope ends are controlled a second compression lever 35 will be positioned within a compartment 28 beneath the slide bar 23, as it is shown in Figs. 2 through 5, and silimarly, the follower pin 42 is extended through the slide bar to provide a second cam follower 42 extending downwardly therefrom for like purposes accomplished with the pin 42 shown in Figs. 2 through 5. The reason for this plurality is brought about by the necessity of having both ends of the drawrope extend through the handle lock 10. Since the second compression lever and cam follower are identical with those illustrated in Figs. 2 through 5, a separate illustration and description thereof is unnecessary.

As stated hereinbefore, Figs. 2, 3 and 4 show, respectively, the lock, normal and release positions of the structure. In each of these positions (as indicated by the arrows on the rope segment 14), slack can be taken up in the drawrope simply by pushing the handle lock toward the bag 11 while tensioning the sections 13 and 14 of the drawrope. Stated another way, the rope segment 14 may be pulled downwardly in the direction of the arrows thereon, over the rounded end portion 39 and notched end portion 38 of the compression lever. However, if a force in the opposite direction is applied to the rope segments, no relative movement between the rope and handle occurs because the rope is tightly compressed between the wall portion 34 of the casing and notched end 38 of the compression lever. The greater the magnitude of the force so applied to the rope segments, the greater will be the compression forces exerted by the notched end 38 of the lever, because such force upon the rope will tend to pivot the compression lever in a clockwise direction since the rope engages the enlarged end portion 39 of the lever, and any forces applied to the rope will of necessity be applied correspondingly to that end of the lever.

In Fig. 2, there is shown a force of such character being applied to the rope segment 14, and it is noted that the rope stretches slightly between the point of engagement thereof with the notched end 38 of the lever and rounded end 39 thereof. In order to amplify this effect, the leg 37 of the lever is provided with a recess 41 which seats the cam follower 42 therein, thereby eliminating engagement of the cam follower with the rope. This same situation prevails when the handle is in its normal position, as shown in Fig. 3, wherein the slide bar 23 has been moved inwardly, or downwardly slightly as shown in that figure. Here again, a force imparted to the rope segment and acting in a direction toward the bag (that is, toward the right through the opening 31) will be applied to the rounded end of the lever, thereby tending to pivot it in a clockwise direction to increase the compressive force applied thereto by the notched end of the lever.

Thus, from an operational point of view, there is no difference between the configurations of the handle lock as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, respectively, and in each case, the rope segment may be drawn downwardly to remove slack thercfrom, but cannot be moved in the opposite direction irrespective of the magnitude of the force applied thercto. In the lock position of Fig. 2, however, the segment of the padlock 15 may be inserted through the eye 27 to constrain the slide bar and both compression levers in such position.

In Fig. 4, the slide bar 23 has been moved downwardly to a greater extent, and such movement drives the cam follower 42 against the inclined surface of the leg 36 to thereby pivot the lever in a counter-clockwise direction to space the notched end 38 thereof from the rope segment. Now, the rope segment can be moved in either direction (as shown by the arr-ow placed thereon) so that the slack could be taken up but, more importantly, so that the drawrope can be released to open the top of the mailbag 11. The release configuration shown in Fig. 4 cannot be maintained except by the continuous application of a force against the slide bar, for the moment the force is released therefrom the natural resilience of the rope pressing outwardly against the rounded end 39 of the compression lever, tends to pivot it in a clockwise direction with the result that the inclined edge of the leg 36 pushes the cam follower 42 upwardly, and of course the slide bar which is attached thereto. Therefore, the handle lock automatically returns from the release position shown in Fig. 4 to the normal position thereof shown in Fig. 3, when the force application is discontinued. Thus, the advantages of a spring-biased lock structure are obtained without the use of springs per se.

It will be noted that the arcuate wall portion 30 is inclined downwardly toward the butt end 29 of the slide bar as that edge approaches the opening 31. Come quently, the rope cannot be oriented so as to obviate the application of force to the rounded end 39 of the compression lever. Rather, all of the forces applied to the rope by the mailbag 11 will be directed against the rounded end of the compression lever because the rope will be inclined slightly downwardly as it passes through the opening 31. The slide bar 23 tends to maintain itself in the lock position shown in Fig. 2 after being moved thereinto because of the cam-like configuration of the leg 37. Thus, in moving the slide bar outwardly, the cam follower slides over the hump-like central portion of the leg and snaps into the recess or seat 41, whereupon further movement in the same direction is restrained by the rivet pin in the slide bar slot and movement in the reverse direction is resisted by the central hump in the leg.

In either the lock or normal positions, the structure may be used as a handle for lifting or dragging the mailbag, as shown in Fig. 1, for the weight of the bag cannot cause relative movement between the drawrope and handle. However, if the mail settles in the bag so that further tightening of the drawrope is required, the slack can be taken up by moving the handle toward the bag along the tensioned rope sections 13 and 14 without repositioning the slide bar 23, and the handle is automatically locked in any new position thereof. Morever, an area and appropriate configuration of the side opposite the mail bag is provided to receive post office identification plates where they are readily readable with predictability when the handle is gripped for moving the bag.

It should be noted that the slide bar cannot be moved into the release position shown in Fig. 4 if a pulling force of any substantial magnitude is being applied to the drawrope in the direction of the bag 11, for any normal force applied downwardly against the slide bar through the thumb of the hand will not be suflicient to overcome the magnitude of the constraining force (resulting from the pulling force) applied to the slide bar through the cam follower thereof which bears against the leg 36 of the compression lever. However, the moment the pulling force is released from the drawcord, a slight thumb pressure against the slide bar is sufiicient to move the same.

Because of the generally T-shaped configuration of the handle lock and drawrope which extends centrally therefrom toward the mailbag, it is convenient for the mail worker to lift or drag the bag by means of the handle, so that the force applied thereby is distributed uniformly about the bag and there is little danger of tearing it. Also, since the lock is designed as a handle, the workman cannot be injured by using it as such. Movement of the drawrope is constrained by a compressive force exerted between the notched end of the compression lever and the casing, whereby the rope is not damaged thereby. n the other hand, if it becomes necessary to replace the drawrope, it can be threaded through the handle structure by holding the slide bar 23 in release position.

Ordinarily, the casing sections will be semi-permanent: ly secured together by rivets so that there will be no way of releasing the structure when it is padlocked as shown in Fig. 1, without destroying it. However, in a shop operation, the rivets are readily removed, whereupon the compression levers, etc. can be replaced. All of the moving parts of the structure are concealed within the casing, except for the end portions of the slide bar which project outwardly therefrom. Therefore, there is little likelihood of these parts being damaged, particularly since the slide bar may be made from sturdy stock steel or comparable material.

While in the foregoing specification an embodiment of the invention has been set forth in considerable detail for purposes of making an adequate disclosure thereof, it will be readily apparent those skilled in the art may make numerous changes in such details without departing from the spirit and principles of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a structure of the character described, a casing having side, end and longitudinal edge walls and defining a compartment therein, a slide bar extending centrally through said casing along the longitudinal axis thereof and being slidable therealong, said slide bar being equipped with a cam pin extending from each side thereof into said compartment, a pair of compression levers, one on each side of said slide bar, each having a generally V-shaped configuration, said compression levers being pivotally mounted within said compartment intermediate their ends with the end portions thereof oriented in spaced adjacency with a longitudinal edge wall of said casing, said cam pin being disposed within the angle defined by said V-shaped compression levers and said slide her being movable so as to bring one or the other of the end portions of said compression levers into closer adjacency with the aforesaid one longitudinal edge wall, said casing being provided with a first and a second opening each communicating with said compartment and being medially divided by said slide bar, said first opening being in an end wall of said casing and adjacent the aforesaid one longitudinal edge wall, and said second opening being adjacent the inner end of said compartment and in the other of said longitudinal edge walls, said openings and compartment being adapted to pass the segments of a drawrope therethrough with such segments disposed between the end portions of said compression levers and the aforesaid one longtiudinal edge wall of the casing.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which the end portion adjacent said first opening of each of said compression levers is serrated, and in which serrations are angularly disposed with the outer edges thereof directed toward said first opening whereby a drawrope having segments thereof engaged by the serrations is movable outwardly through said first opening irrespective of the position of said slide bar.

3. The structure of claim 2 in which the other end portion of each of said compression levers is generally aligned with said second opening so that rope segments passing through said second opening bear against those end portions and impart a force thereto whenever a load is applied to such rope segments tending to move the same outwardly through said second opening.

4. The structure of claim 3 in which said last mentioned end portions of said compression levers are convex, and in which the compression levers adjacent such convex end portions are provided with recesses adapted to seat said cam pins therein when said slide bar is moved to its lock position.

5. The structure of claim 4 in which said slide bar has an end portion extending outwardly from said casing whenever the slide bar is in its lock position, and in which said end portion is provided with an opening therethrough adapted to receive a padlock for constraining the slide bar in such lock position.

6. In a handle lock structure of the character described having lock, release and normal positions, a casing having a compartment therein, a slide bar extending longitudinally through said casing and being slidable with respect thereto, a generally V-shaped compression lever pivotally mounted intermediate the ends thereof in said compartment with the end portions of the lever oriented in spaced adjacency with a wall of said casing, one end portion of said lever being serrated for frictionally gripping a rope segment interposed between said wall in the serrated end portion, the other end portion of said lever being convex to reduce the frictional resistance to the passage of a rope segment thereover, said slide bar being equipped with a cam pin disposed generally within the area defined by the angle of said V-shaped lever and being selectively movable against the respective legs thereof to define loci; and release positions for said structure, said normal position being one in which said cam pin is disposed within such area so as to afford relatively free Pivotal movement of the compression level, and said casing providing a first opening communicating with said chamber adjacent the serrated end portion of said lever and being provided also with a second opening communicating with said compartment adjacent the convex end portion of the compression lever and in general alignment therewith, said serrations being angularly oriented and directed outwardly toward said first opening whereby a rope segment passing thereover can be moved outwardly through said first opening irrespective of the position of said slide bar.

7. The structure of claim 6 in which said slide bar is provided with means for constraining the same in the lock position thereof including an opening concealed within the confines of said casing when the slide bar is in said release position and exposed beyond the casing when the slide bar is in said lock position.

8. In a drawrope handle lock having normal release and lock positions, a casing defining a compartment therein, said casing having a first opening and a second opening each communicating with said compartment and having their respective axes oriented at generally right angles, a pair of compression levers pivotally mounted intermediate the ends thereof within said compartment and each having a pair of diverging legs extending into spaced adjacency with a wall of said casing, said casing having a channel extending longitudinally therethrough medially dividing said compartment and separating said compression levers, a slide bar mounted within said channel for movement along the longitudinal axis thereof, and a cam pin carried by said slide bar on each side thereof and extending between the legs of the respective compression levers, one leg of each compression lever having a serrated end to frietionally grip a rope segment passing thereover and the end of the other leg of each compression lever being convex to facilitate the movement of such rope segment thereover. said slide bar being seleclively positionable within said channel for determining the normal, release and lock positions of said compression levers through the relative location of said cam pins with respect thereto, said second opening being generally aligned with the convex end of said compression levers so that rope segments passing through said second opening bear against the convex end of said compression levers.

9. In a drawrope handle lock having normal release and lock positions, a casing defining a compartment therein, said casing having a first opening and a second opening each communicating with said compartment and having their respective axes oriented at generally right angles, a pair of compression levers pivotally mounted intermediate the ends thereof within said compartment and each having a pair of diverging legs extending into spaced adjacency with a wall of said casing, said casing having a channel extending longitudinally therethrough medially dividing said compartment and separating said compression levers, a slide bar mounted within said channel for movement along the longitudinal axis thereof, and a cam pin carried by said slide bar on each side thereof and extending between the legs of the respective compression levers, one leg of each compression lever having a serrated end to frictionally grip a rope segment passing thereover and the end of the other leg of each compression lever being convex to facilitate the movement of such rope segment thereover, said slide bar being selectively positionable Within said channel for determining the normal, release and lock positions of said compression levers through the relative location of said cam pins with respect thereto, said second opening being generally aligned with the convex end of said compression levers so that rope segments passing through said second opening bear against the convex end of said compression levers, said casing being provided with an inner wall defining the inner end of said compartment, said inner wall being adjacent said second opening and being angularly oriented toward the second opening in the direction of said compression levers for fur thering the bearing engagement of rope segments with the convex end of the compression levers.

10. A drawrope l-ock adapted for combination with a drawrope to form a T-handle for moving mail sacks and the like, said T-handle comprising a casing defining a compartment therein and having a longitudinally extending channel medially dividing said compartment, a slide bar movable longitudinally through said channel and having end portions projecting outwardly from said casing, 21 pair of compression levers pivotally mounted in said compartment on the same axis and disposed on opposite sides respectively of said slide bar, each of said compression levers having a pair of diverging legs extending toward a wall of said casing for selective movement into spaced adjacency therewith, and a cam pin carried by said slide bar on each side thereof and disposed generally between the diverging legs of the respective compression levers for occasional engagement therewith. said levers thereby being free to grip or release said drawrope without engaging said cam pins, said cam pins being operable to release or engage said levers, said casing being provided with a first opening in a wall thereof adjacent the aforesaid wall and communicating with said compartment on opposite sides of said slide bar and provided with a second opening in a Wall opposite the aforesaid wall and communicating with said compartment on opposite sides of said slide bar, said openings and compartment being adapted topass segments which form the loop of a drawrope therethrough extending between the aforesaid wall and legs of the respective compression levers, a corresponding end of each of said compression levers being roughened to frictionally bear against such rope segments and constrain the same against movement, said slide bar being selectively positionable for establishing lock, normal and release conditions of said compression levers.

11. A drawrope lock adapted for combination with a drawrope to form a T-handle for moving mail sacks and the like, said T-handle comprising a casing defining a compartment therein, said casing having a first opening and a second opening each communicating with said compartment and having their respective axes oriented at generally right angles, one of which opens laterally from near the center of the casing, a pair of compression levers pivotally mounted intermediate the openings and within said compartment and each having a pair of diverging legs extending into spaced adjacency with a Wall of said casing for simultaneous engagement with a draw rope threaded through said one opening and out from the other of said openings, said casing having a channel extending longitudinally therethrough medially dividing said compartment and separating said compression levers, a slide bar mounted within said channel for movement along the longitudinal axis thereof, and a cam pin carried by said slide bar on each side thereof disposed between the legs of the respective compression levers for alternate engagement with said legs, one leg of each compression lever having a serrated end to frictionally grip a rope segment passing thereover and the end of the other leg of each compression lever being convex to facilitate the movement of such rope segment thereover, said compression levers being positioned to route the drawropes through said casing at an angle of at least 90, thereby permitting said compression levers to close or open themselves in response to drawrope movements, such lever operation taking place without the use of any springs, said slide bar being selectively positionable within said channel for determining the normal, release and lock positions of said compression levers through the relative location of said cam pins with respect thereto.

10 12. The lock handle structure of claim 11 in which the leg of each of said compression levers having the convex end is provided with a recess adjacent thereto for seating the corresponding cam pin therein to maintain said slide bar and compression levers in lock position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 413,624 Mains Oct. 22, 1889 432,539 Mains July 22, 1890 432,756 Mains July 22, 1890 1,176,510 Young Mar. 21, 1916 

